collection (embracing numerous specimens received since my last paper was written), that specimens from the patria of erythrocercus proper (Venezuela, Tobago, Bahia, and other parts of South America) are uniformly darker colored than the smaller Mexican examples, though they may fully equal them in size. This darkness of color is carried to an extreme degree in Antillean specimens, and constitutes, so far as I am able to see, the sole distinguishing character of Mr. Lawrence's "M. oberi," as compared with the continental forms of the species en masse. Finally, I therefore conclude that, whatever may be the character of Central American specimens (of course they are intermediate), or whether the name mexicana is to be applied to the larger or smaller race of the Mexican bird (and the odds are strongly in favor of the latter), that (1) the name erythrocercus should, if to be used at all, be restricted to examples agreeing strictly with the South American "race," since it is subsequent in date to mexicanus; and (2) that the Rio Grande birds are probably exactly like the type of the latter.*

Nyctidromus ALBICOLLIS (Gmel.) Burm.-As explained some years since by Dr. Sclater (see P. Z. S. 1861, p. 10, and 1866, p. 144), the earliest name for this species is Caprimulgus albicollis Gmel. (S. N., I, ii, 1788, p. 1030), the C. americanus of Linnæus, quoted by Mr. Cassin (Proc. Philad. Acad. 1851, pp. 179, 180) and some other authors (see Mr. Sennett's two lists) being unquestionably a Jamaican species belonging to quite a different genus (Siphonorhis americana). All the synonyms and the more important references are given in my notes in Dr. Merrill's paper (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., I, pp. 143 and 144).

IACHE latirostris (Sw.) Elliot.-This species, introduced to the fauna of the United States by Mr. Henshaw (cf. American Sportsman, v, Feb. 20, 1875, p. 328; Zoology Wheeler's Exp., Orn., p. 380) under the name of Circe latirostris, should be hereafter known by the above name, the genus Circe being previously employed in another branch of zoology (see Elliott, Synopsis of the Trochilidæ, p. 234).

NOMONYX, gen. nov.

CH.-Similar to Erismatura, but differing from all the species of that genus in the form of the maxillary unguis, which is similar to that of Fulix and allied genera, the same being in Erismatura the most peculiar and important generic character. Type, Anas dominica, Linn.

Altogether the most distinctive feature of the genus Erismatura consists in the remarkably peculiar conformation of the maxillary unguis, *It seems proper to offer here a word of explanation in reference to the second paragraph on page 403 of Mr. Sennett's paper, which says (referring to my remarks on this species in Dr. Merrill's list): "There is no notice whatever of my specimen from Hidalgo, Tex., . . . which is in the National Museum, and which is the first record of its existence within our limits, and which Mr. Ridgway no doubt examined when he coincided with Dr. Coues as to its identification." The explanation I have to make is, that at the time my paper was written and printed the specimen in question was not in the National Museum collection, but, with other birds, had been returned to Mr. Sennett, at his request, for examination.

or nail of the upper mandible. This, viewed from above, is extremely small, narrow, and linear, the broader terminal half being bent very abruptly downward and backward, so as to be visible only from in front or below. With the sole exception of Anas dominica, Linn., all the species usually referred to this genus agree strictly with the type, Anas leucocephala, Scop., notwithstanding other characters are more or less variable. Anas dominica, Linn., has the nail of normal form, or very much like that prevailing among the ducks generally, and on this account should be separated generically from Erismatura.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF BIRD OF THE FAMILY TURDIDÆ, FROM THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA, W. I.

By GEO. N. LAWRENCE.

Margarops dominicensis.

Margarops herminieri, Lawr. nec Lafr., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. I, p. 52. Male. The entire upper plumage is of a rich dark brown, the crown is darker and has the edges of the feathers of a lighter shade; tail and quill feathers of a darker brown than the back; axillars and under wing-coverts white; the lores are blackish brown; the feathers back of the eyes and the ear-coverts have narrow shaft streaks of pale rufous; the feathers of the neck and upper part of the breast are of a warm dark brown, those of the chin and middle of the throat with light rufous centres, those of the lower part of the neck and the upper part of the breast have also light rufous centres, but in addition each feather has a light terminal spot; on the lower part of the breast and on the sides the feathers have white centres, bordered strikingly with brown; the markings of the breast-feathers are squamiform in shape, those of the sides lanceolate; the abdomen is white, a few feathers on the upper part are very narrowly margined with brown; under tail-coverts brown, terminating with white; outer feathers of thighs brown, the inner whitish; "iris tea-color;" there is a naked space around the eye; bill yellow, with the basal half of the upper mandible dusky; tarsi and toes pale yellow.

Length (fresh), 9 inches; wing, 5; tail 34; tarsus, 13; bill from front, 15, from gap, 13.

Type in United States National Museum.

Mr. Ober sent five specimens of this form from Dominica, all males and closely resembling each other. It is probable, as in the allied species, that the females do not differ in plumage materially from the males.

Mr. Ober's collection from Dominica contained three species of Margarops which I never had seen before. These were referred to known species, two of them, I think, correctly; but the one which is the subject of this article I now find was erroneously considered to be M. herminieri, Lafr. I supposed these species would be the same as those recorded

from the neighboring islands, as they agreed well with the descriptions given of them, and there were no available specimens to compare with. As soon as I had finished the examination of the birds of each island collected by Mr. Ober, they were placed in a box by themselves, and not disturbed again except for an occasional comparison. The collection from Guadeloupe, containing specimens of the true M. herminieri, Lafr., was not received until more than a year after that from Dominica. These specimens I labelled M. herminieri, Lafr., as a matter of course, they being from the locality of the type. The difference between the birds from the two islands was not observed at that time, as no comparison was made.

This winter, having occasion to review the species of Margarops, I got the specimens from the different islands together for the first time, and at once saw that the species from Dominica was quite distinct from the Guadeloupe bird. It differs from M. herminieri, Lafr., in being less in length, of a more robust form, the bill stouter, and the tail shorter; the brown coloring throughout is much darker and of a ruddy cast, instead of olivaceous; the centres of the feathers on the throat and upper part of the breast are much more rufous, and have black spots at their ends; the abdomen is pure white, whereas in M. herminieri the lower part of the breast and the abdomen are covered with lanceolate-shaped markings, which are very striking, each feather being white, with a strongly defined brown border; only a very small space on the lower part of the abdomen is white; M. herminieri has the white ends of the under tail-coverts edged narrowly with pale brown; in the new species they are white without borders, and it has the tarsi and toes stronger and paler in color than those of M. herminieri.

FEBRUARY 1, 1880.

NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF FISHES FROM EAST FLORIDA, OBTAINED BY DR. J. A. HENSHALL.

By DAVID S. JORDAN, M. D.

During the past winter (1878-79) a collection of fishes was made for the writer by Dr. J. A. Henshall, of Cynthiana, Ky., in the streams and inlets of Eastern Florida. The number of species obtained was not large, but the specimens were preserved in excellent condition, and among them are several of interest. Two species (Gerres plumieri and Umbrina broussoneti) had not been previously recorded from the coast of the United States. Three others were, at the time of collection, new to science. One of these has been lately described, under the name of Jordanella florida, by Messrs. Goode and Bean. The others have been already noticed by me in these proceedings as Zygonectes rubrifrons and Zygonectes henshalli.

Proc. Nat. Mus. 80- -2

April 26, 1880.

The marine species were obtained from Indian River and from the neighboring coast; the cyprinodonts, centrarchids, and other fresh or brackish water species chiefly from San Sebastian River and tributaries.

DIODONTIDE.

1. Chilomycterus geometricus (Schneid.) Kaup.

URANOSCOPIDE.

2. Astroscopus y-græcum (C. & V.) Gill.

A single fine specimen of this beautiful species. Dr. Henshall informs me that this specimen in life exhibited strong electrical powers, these powers apparently having their seat in the naked skin on the top of the head. So far as I know, such phenomena have not hitherto been ascribed to any fish of this family. I therefore put this statement on record, in hopes that subsequent observers of this rare fish may be able to verify it.

3. Echeneis naucrates L.

ECHENEIDIDÆ.

A single specimen, with 22 laminæ in the disk.

4. Selene argentea Lac.

CARANGIDÆ.

Numerous fine large specimens. Specimens lately described from the Pacific coast under the name of Argyriosus pacificus, Lockington, appear to belong to this species.

5. Carangus chrysus (Mitch.) Girard.

6. Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Linn.) Gill.

7. Oligoplites occidentalis (L.) Gill.

Several fine specimens of this highly interesting species. The character of five (instead of seven) dorsal spines, assumed to distinguish Oligoplites from Scombroides Lac. (Chorinemus C. & V.), is perhaps of insufficient value for generic distinction. Some of the species of Scombroides have, however, the dermal productions really scale-like, instead of the irregular linear imbedded ridges found in Oligoplites. This character may for the present, until all the species of the group are examined, be held to distinguish the latter genus.

SCIENIDE.

8. Umbrina broussoneti Cuv. & Val.

Two fine specimens of this West Indian species were obtained by Dr. Henshall. These are the first yet recorded from the United States. The species is not included in Goode's Catalogue of Bermudan Fishes, nor

in any of Poey's lists of the fishes of Cuba. It is, therefore, an important addition to our fauna. This specimen agrees very fully with Günther's description of Umbrina broussoneti, and with Cuvier and Valenciennes's description of Umbrina coroides. C. & V.'s description of U. broussoneti gives the number of rays in the dorsal fin as X. I, 25. My specimens have D. X. I, 28.

9. Gerres plumieri Cuv. & Val.

GERRIDE.

A single fine specimen of this beautiful species. It has not been previously recorded from the coasts of the United States.

SPARIDE.

10. Lagodon rhomboides (L.) Holbr.

PRISTIPOMATIDE.

11. Lutjanus caxis (Schneider) Poey.

A single fine specimen.

CENTRARCHIDE.

12. Micropterus pallidus (Raf.) Gill & Jordan.

Dr. Léon Vaillant (Mission Scientifique au Mexique: ined.) divides this species provisionally into two, adopting the name "Micropterus salmoides" for the ordinary form, and that of Micropterus nuecensis (Baird & Girard) for the south western form (Texas and Mexico). According to him the two are externally identical, but M. nuecensis is distinguished by the presence of a small patch of teeth on the tongue, the tongue being entirely smooth in the ordinary form.

I have examined a number of specimens in regard to this point.
I find lingual teeth in the following specimens:

(1.) Two specimens, one large one small, from the Falls of the Ohio. (2.) One small specimen from a tributary of White River at Bloomington, Ind.

(3.) One specimen (in the museum at Paris) from Texas.

I find them absent in the following:

(1.) Several specimens in Henshall's collection from Indian River.

(2.) Specimen from Neuse River.

(3.) Specimens from White River at Indianapolis.

(4.) Specimens from Lake Erie.

The presence of these teeth evidently does not depend on age, and apparently not on sex. It may be a specific feature, but I am inclined at present to think it only a feature of individual variation. I have not seen such teeth in the small-mouthed black bass.